Book Review: Bellevue Square by Michael Redhill

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Published in Canada by Anchor Canada,

a division of Random House of Canada Limited,

a Penguin Random House Company

Published in 2017

winner of the 2017 Scotiabank Giller Prize

Bookstore owner, Jean Mason is happily married and the mother of two boys--Nick and Reid. One day a regular customer comes into her store and tells her that he just saw her twin or doppelganger or clone or... What exactly is Ingrid Fox? Who exactly is Jean Mason? The answers are just beyond Jean's grasp. Does that make her an unreliable narrator? Technically yes. But she isn't trying to deceive. She is sharing her truth. 

And, in fact, I found this book an intriguing blend of literary fiction and mystery. 

Chapter-by-chapter, the reader grows to realize that Jean Mason has... Well, there's something wrong with her brain.

Polite society has trouble talking about (and accepting) people who have brain problems. We (the disabled) are just supposed to grow out of, get over or seek treatment for it. 

I commend Michael Redhill for writing this important book.

'And more people should recognize that if you can treat it with medicine, it must be like every other disease and no one should be ashamed to have it and others shouldn't be afraid of it.' (p. 171)

More...

CBC books' interview with Michael Redhill 

Why should you attend Ellen Schwartz's writing workshop on Mayne Island?

I'll share the top four reasons this coming Wednesday

Next Sunday evening on this blog...

photo by ldyck

Annie 
This short story was inspired by the novel 
The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani

What would you do to make a dream reality?

Sharing my author journey...

I love to write... I love to read... I love short stories
If you do too you'll love this list...
Short List Announced for the 2018 Danuta Gleed Literary Award

Book Review: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (historical fiction)

Set in the 1800s, a period marked by significant scientific and humanitarian advancements, this sweeping tale takes us from the British West Indies to the Arctic, Canada, England, and Africa.

Buy this book

Published in 2018

Published by Patrick Crean Editions
an imprint of HarperCollins Publications Ltd.

won the Scotiabank Giller prize in 2018

finalist for The Man Booker Prize

Sympathetic protagonist Washington Black is born a slave and is told the only way to freedom is death. And yet he finds another way.

When Washington watches Titch draw he thinks: 'I had never seen such artisty...And suddenly I knew that I wanted--desperately wanted--to do it too. I wanted to create a world with my hands.' (p. 45)

In an interview with Chatelaine magazine's reporter Emily Landau (January 2019) Author Esi Edugyan revealed that she gained inspiration for Washington Black from historic figures--Roger Tichborne and Olaudah Equiano.

Favourite quotes...

"If not for yourself, then for those like you who would never get the chance of it. Men as talented as you who will never get the chance of anything." (p. 306)

"There are several kinds of happiness, Washington. Sometimes it is not for us to choose, or even understand, the one granted to us."  (p. 402)

More... 

In 2013, I reviewed Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan

Next post...

Sunday, March 24 at approximately 5 PM PST



A Wake for the Dreamland --a prize-winning historical fiction novel-- by Laurel Deedrich-Mayne is set in the years before, during and after World War II.

Book Review: The Sentimentalists by Johanna Skibrub

Even before I started reading this book, I was inspired by it—or, more to the point, the story behind the book.

Gaspereau Press—a small Nova Scotian publishing house, released the first copies of this book. Author Johanna Skidsrud had a relationship with this press. They had published her poetry collection—Late Nights With Wild Cowboys—in 2008. But I don’t think Gaspereau Press was ready for the wild ride The Sentimentalists would take them on. The book won the Scotiabank Giller Prize, and then all of Canada wanted to read it. Gaspereau tried, but just wasn’t equipped for the challenge. So a larger press—Douglas & McIntyre—re-released it.

After hearing that story, I knew I had to read it. If only to have some of the lucky ink rub off on my author fingers.

My thoughts after reading…

Johanna Skidsrud has a unique writing style. Long, complex sentences are strung together, like clothing on a clothing line—a sleeve fondly caressing a pant leg.

Here are some of my favourite quotes…

“A lot of stuff just happens, you know, my little Honey, whether I personally believe in it or not.”

No matter how hard you try to understand someone something escapes.

A piece of you always remains after death.

The narrator gets to know her father, as we, the reader, do—slowly, very slowly from the outside in. Her father has never been able to live a normal life. He abandons his family. He throws his money away on unwise investments. He can’t even finish building his beloved boats. Unable to live life, he runs away from the United States to Canada. There he is taken care of by his friend Henry. It’s not until the end of the book that we see what has destroyed him to the core.